Typewriting machine



June 10, 1930.

J. C. M. SCHNEIDER TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed Jan. 19, 1927 INveNToa:

num-t- Patented June l0, 1930 JOSEF C. M. SCHNEIDER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T UNDERWOOD ELLIOTT FISHER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF :DELAWARE TYPEWRITING MACHINE Application filed January 19, 1927.

This invention relates to stencil-Cardtypewritting machines in which a stencil-card is reciprocated in front of a platen and is elevated to the printing line by means of a line-spacing mechanism.

The card-holding frame is first in its uppermost position for receiving the card, and is then lowered to its lowermost position by pressing thereon so that a line of typing may be printed on the upper edge of the Cardframe. Then, by operating the line-spacing mechanism, the Card is positioned for the first line of typing on the stencil-sheet, and, after completely typing an address, the frame is restored to its initial position and the card is withdrawn from the frame and another Card is inserted therein.

According to some features of this invention the card-holding frame is slightly Curved and contacts with the platen in they vicinity of the printing line. The curving of the frame facilitates typing on a case-shift machine, and it clears some of the mechanism in the machine especially the segment7 which carries all the type-bars. This segment is provided with an anvil against which all the type-bars strike, to prevent blurring of the typing, and is made very strong and'heavy, and therefore bulky. Heretofore in mount-- ing a Card-holding frame between the typebar segment and the platen it has been necessary to cut away a portion of the segment, thereby weakening the same, which is objectionable.

The new organization includes a platen of reduced diameter, which affords room to permit the introduction of the Card-holding frame without cutting away the type-bar segment, and it also includes special type-bars 40 `provided with eXtra long type-heads, which are compensatory to the reduction of the diameter of the platen, so that the types may strike the reduced .plat-en. The diameter of theplaten may be about one-quarter of an inch smaller than the standard platen, which is one and three-quarter inches in diameter.

This requires building up the type-head oneeigth of an inch. By means of this novel arrangement ample space is obtained between trie platen and the type-bar segment so that Serial No. 161,971.

a strong card-holding frame may be freely operated therebetween.

- According to another feature of this invention the platen is loosely mounted on the platen-shaft, which is geared to the Cardholding frame. Around this loose platen a strip of Celluloid or other composition of similar character is passed and is held in place by means of a pressure-roll which is effective to prevent rotation of the platen when the card is line-spaced by operation of the platen-shaft. The advantage of using Celluloid as a backing for stencil-cards is well known, but heretofore the practice has been to secure a small piece of Celluloid around the platen by means of screws or otherwise. Since the Celluloid has to be replaced often much time is wasted in this work. This new arrangement saves time and Celluloid. After using a portion of the Celluloid strip for some time the same may be moved around the platen to` present a fresh portion thereof to the types, by simply pulling on the leading edge of the Celluloid.

ln order that the ribbon may be guided near the reduced platen, it is necessary to rearrange the ribbon-vibrator so that the ribbon itself is deflected about one-eighth of an inch further back than is the standard practice. This may be done by simply bending or building up the ribbon-vibrator.

In order to facilitate the insertion of the card in the card-holding frame, which latter is sometimes likely to bulge and then strike the ribbon, it is also proposed to provide the machine with a unitary deiiecting finger which is secured the type-bar segment. This finger extends considerably above the top edge of the ribbon and is iiared outwardly, away from the platen, the ribbon being mounted in front of the nger which is provided with an opening to permit typing therethrough.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear. Y

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a cross-sectional view through the Center of an Underwood machine having the invention applied thereto.

lUG-

shaft.

Figure 2 is a front view showing the stencil-card in its lower-most position.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional plan view through the center of the platen.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view showing a built-up type-bar in its operative position striking against a small platen.

Figure 5 is a detail of the card showing how the lines are unevenly spaced thereon.

Figure 6 is an end view of the platen-frame showing the line-spacing mechanism.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the line-spacing ratchet and other mechanism associated therewith.

A. stencil-card 10 is inserted, bottom edge down, in a card-holding frame 11 which is arranged to be moved up and rlown in front of a platen 12 rotatably mounted on a platenshaft 13 which is in turn rotatable by means of linger-pieces 14 at the ends thereof. rlhe shaft is operatively connected to the frame by means of a pair of gears 15, which are fastened to the shaft by a screw 16, and by means of which racks 17 form integral parts :if the card-holding` frame. The latter is slightly curved and slides in grooves 18 cut in the end plates 19 carried by the platen-frame of the machine, which is case-shifted by means of a supporting rail 2O carried by arms 22 mounted on a cross-shaft 2l. rlhe card is held in place in the frame by means of front plates 23 which, together with the frame, confine the edges of the card. Said plates are attached to the frame by means of screws 24, and are provided at the top thereof with finger-pieces 25 and 26 for moving the frame downwardly to position the card for the first line of typing 27 on the upper edge thereof.

During line-spacing of the card, the platen, which is loosely mounted on the shaft, is held stationary by means of a pressure-roller 28 which is pivotally mounted on a crossbar 29 and is held in contact with the platen by means of a spring 30 coiled around the A Celluloid strip 31 may in this manner be held around the platen in immovable position during line-spacing of the card, so that the same portion of the celuloid may serve as a backing for many lines of typing on the stencil. When it is desired to linespace the Celluloid strip the same is pulled forwardly by gripping the leading edge thereof, thereby presenting a fresh portion of the strip to the printing line.

'l he Underwood machine is provided with type-bars 32 which are pivotally mounted on a rod 33 carried by a type-bar segment 34 fixed to the frame 35 of the machine. The type-bars are swung to strike the platen by means of bell-cranks 36 which are operated by a series of keys, not shown. The typebar segment 34 is reinforced by a cast-iron cross-bar 37 which tends to prevent vibration of the types when typing very fast.

Owing to the compact construction of the Underwood machine, said cross-bar 37 is just strong enough to withstand the strain placed thereon. Heretofore, however, in order to provide space for operating a cardholding frame between said cross-bar and the platen, it was necessary to cut away a portion of the cross-bar. This weakening of the type-bar segment is objectionable. Acording to this invention, instead of cutting the cross-bar in order to make room for the card-holding frame, it is proposed to make the platen much smaller than the standard size and to move the card-holding frame backwardly away from the cross-bar so as to obtain the necessary clearance. his sets the printing point further back in the machine relatively to the type-bars, and since the platen-shaft is maintained in its original position, the type-heads must be moved nearer to the platen. For this reason the typebars are provided with special type-heads 38 which are soldered to' the type-bars 32 and extend far enough to the rear to strike the platen.

ln order that the ribbon may be moved near the platen, a ribbon-vibrator 39 is increased rearwardly by an extension 4() which is welded thereto at each side of the typeslot, as shown more clearly in Figure 3. The ribbon-vibrator is arranged to be moved up and down in front of the types in the regular manner and is slidably mounted on a type-guide 41 carried by the type-bar segment.

iccording to another feature of this invention there is provided a card-deflector 42 which is fast to the cross-bar 37 by means of screws 43 and serves as a means for preventing the bottom edge of the card from engaging the top edge of the ribbon 44 when the card is placed in the card-holding frame, Tris detlector 42 may be mounted between the platen and the ribbon-vibrator and is provided with an opening 45 through which the type may strike the card. The upper et ge of the deflector is flared away from the platen to further facilitate the insertion of the card in the card-holding frame.

Insertion of the celluloid strip around the platen is facilitated by providing a ngerpiece 43 which is effective to swing the roller 28 away from the platen. Thus the leading edge of the strip is easily passed over a guiding plate 47 which spaces the intake and delivery ends of the strip. rlhe tension on the roller 23 may be regulated by operating the screws 49 which hold the cross-bar 29 in place. rlhe guiding' plate is carried by a bail-piece 43, pivotally mounted on the cross-bar 29.

lt is desired to double space the card between the line of typing 27 on the upper edge of the card and the lirst line of typing 59a on the stencil-sheet. To this end, there is provided a cam-plate 60 which is pivotally mounted on the platen-shaft and is held in the position shown in Figure 6 by means of a pin 6l. The latter is iiXed to a linespace ratchet 62 and holds the cam-plate 60 against the tension of a spring 63. The ratchet is line-spaced by means of a pawl 64, whicl is held in engagement therewith by means of a spring 6'? and is carried by a slide 65, operated by a line-spacing handle 66. A retaining' pawl 68, pivotally mounted at 69, is held in Contact with the ratchet 62 by means of a spring 70. When first line-spacing the side 65, the pawl 64 enUages the teeth of the ratchet 62 and moves the same two spaces. At tiis time the pawl engages also a projection 7l on the cam-plate 60 to thereby move tlle cam-plate against a stop 7 2 carried on one of the end plates 54. During other line-spacing movements of the slide 65, the pawl rides over an extension Z3 of the camplate which has previously been moved to operating position so that only one tooth of the ratchet -62 is engaged by the pawl. By means of this arrangement the card is automatically line-spaced, so thatthe distance between the first line of typing on the frame of the card and the first line of typing on the stencil-sheet is greater than the spacing between the other lines on the stencilsheet. 'lhe ratchet may be the same as is usually `used in the standard typewriting machines, except that one of the teeth is cut away at 74 to limit the number of lines which may be written on the card. lll/*hen the ratchet is moved so that the mutilated tooth is in front of the pawl, the latter will move idly and no further line-spacing of the card will occur. The present invention may be used in connection with the line-spacing mechanism disclosed in my lending application, Serial No. 162,114, filed August 28, i926, now Patent No, 1,725,542, dated August 26, 1929, in which a separate retaining` ratchet-wh el is associated with a specially constructed line-space ratchet-wheel.

This device is specially desiened for hard, continuous service. The structure is therefore strongly reinforced so as to reduce wear Yl tear to a minimum and to reduce vibration during fast typing. To this end, the .ond plates "r9 are secured means of brackets 50, which are fast thereto, by means of screws 5i, to a cross-bar which carries a rear table 53 and serres as a means for joining together end plates 54 of the platenframe. rho israel-:ets 50 are secured to the cross-bar 52 with screws 55.

The spacing between the plates 19 may be s to fit the width of the card-holding me by means f screws 56 carried by hubs which are slidably mounted on a shaft 59 and form integral parts of the plates,

rllhe platen is preferably made of castluminum and is cored so as to make it as 'ht as possible to facilitate case-shifting of the platen-frame. yl'he ends of the platen may be provided with bronze bushings 58 driven or otherwise secures thereto to form durable bearings for the platen on shaft 13.

VariC ions may be resorted to within the scope or the invention, and portions of the iii-iprovement may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, l claim:

l. il stencil-card typewriting machine including card-holding frame arranged to reciprocate in front of a platen and means for line-spacing' the frame, said moans including a line-spacing mechanism operatively connected to platen shaft, gears carried by aid shaft and raclrs on said card-holding rame for engaging the gears, the platen .seing loosely mounted on the 'platen shaft, and a resilient pressure roll running on the platen to hold the platen and prevent rotation thereof when line-spacing' the card, the platen being' independently rotatable to linespace a backing s1 eet therearound.

2. ln a stencil-card ypewriting machine, the combination of a card-holding frame hava card pocket, a platen, a platen axle, means for rotating said axle, means for operatively connecting the axle with the cardcarrying' frame, the platen being loosely mounted on the shaft, and a pressure roll for frictionally preventing rotation of the platen upon movement of trie platen axle, said pressure roll being also eiiective to hold in place a strip of Celluloid serving as a backing for tie stencil-card.

3. In a typewritine machine having a platen, a card-carrying frame arranged to reciprocate in front thereof and a ribbon in front of the platen, means for deliecting the card during insertion thereof in the cardcarrying frame, said means including a plate mounted between the ribbon the platen adjacent the printing point, the upper edge ofthe plate being higher than the ribbon and having an opening therein in front of the ribbon through which opening the type may strike the platen.

4. ln a stencil-card typewritino machine, the combination of a revoluble platen, a shaft therefor, end plates for rotatably supporting said shaft, a card-holding` frame arranged to reciprocate in front of the platen upon rotation of the shaft, and a pressure roll for holding the platen against rotation and for holding a backing sheet therearound.

5. A stencil-card typewriting machine including in combination, a platen displaced rearwardly of the stan dard printing plane, a supporting shaft therefor, plates for rotatably supporting said shaft, there being a pair of gears fast to said shaft, a card-holding frame uniformly curved throughout its length along an arc having its axis a distance to the rear of the shaft and bodily slidable in correspondingly curved channels in said j ',radius, the platen plates in front of the platen, there being also racks carried by said frame for engaging said gears, and the platen being loosely mcuntei on said shaft for independent rotation thereen, a line-spacing mechanism operatively connected to the platen-shaft for line-spacing the card, and means for independently contrellin said platen.

(3. ln a stencil-car typer-,vriting machine, the combination with a platen, a shaft therefor, and a segment ha ing type-bars pivot/ed thereon, of a card-carrying frame arranged to move up and down in fro-nt of the platen in a uniformly carved path of relatively large having the front printing face thereof setback from the standard printing plane of the machine, connections between the shaft and said frame to move the latter said curved path upon line-spacing cf the former, line-space mechanism for said shaft including a ratchet-Wheel, a manuallyoperated pawl engaging` said ratchet-Wheel, and a retaining pawl for the same, and means flo-operating with said line-space mechanism for producing automatically-variable linespacing movement of said shaft, the rearvrard displacement of the front printing face of the platen co-operating With the curvature of the card-carrying frame in conformity ivith the curved path of travel thereof to provide ample space between the segment and the platen for the movement of said cardcarrying frame.

7. ln a stencil-card typewriting machine, tie combination with a platen, and a shaft therefor, of a card-carrying frame arranged to move up and down in front of the platen in a uniformly curved path Whose axis is located behind the shaft, connections between the shaft and said frame to move the latter in said curved path upon line-spacing of the former, line-space mechanism for said shaft including a ratchet-Wheel secured on the platen-shaft, a manually-operated paWl engaging said ratchet-Wheel, and a retaining paWl for the same, and means co-operating With said line-space mechanism for producautomatically variable line-spacing movement said shaft, said means including a pivoted cam mounted in the path of said manually-operated paWl and associated with said ratchet-Wheel so as to be settable to initially permit plural-space line-spacing of said shaft and be automatically set by said pawl to thereafter control the latter to uniformly line-space the shaft a smaller number of line-spaces upon the subsequent actuations of the paWl.

8. ln a stencil-card typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a shaft therefor, a card-carrying frame arranged to move up and down in front of the platen, connections between the shaft and said frame to move the latter upon line-spacing of the former, linespace mechanism for said shaft including a ratchet-Wheel, a manually-operated paWl engaging said ratchet-Wheel,l and a retaining pawl for the same, means co-operating with said line-space mechanism for producing automatically-variable line-spacing movement of said shaft, said means including a cam in the path of said manually-operated pawl and initially settable to permit plural-space line-spacing of said shaft and automatically set by said pawl to thereafter control the latter to uniformly line-space the shaft a smaller number of line-spaces upon the subsequent actuations of the paWl, and means for limiting the line-spacing of the shaft to prevent accidental displacement of the card-carrying frame, said last-mentioned means including a cut-away tooth o-n said ratchet-Wheel over which cut-away portion said manually-operated pawl will idly ride.

JOSEF C. M. SCHNEIDER. 

